8/13/2008 @ 6:00PM

Parents' Guide To College Depression

Most parents of college-bound kids are likely caught up this month in thoughts of shopping lists, what to pack and how they’ll say goodbye.

But given the growing number of college-aged kids reporting that they’re dealing with depression, it may also be worth it to think about how these kids will handle the sometimes overwhelming transition to being on his or her own–and, should it trigger a mental health disorder, what parents can do.

Everything from the way parents talk to their kids on the phone at school to their own attitudes about seeking mental health counseling can have an impact, experts say.

The rate of students reporting ever having been diagnosed with depression increased 56% between 2000 and 2005, from 10% to 16%, according to the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment. But just how common is the problem?

The organization’s fall 2007 survey showed that, of more than 20,000 students questioned at 48 schools, 36% were so depressed that it had caused difficulty functioning on one to 10 occasions during the previous year.

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Depression has likely grown among college-aged students in the U.S. due to more diagnoses (an effect of increased awareness), more campus mental health resources and a greater willingness to discuss the problem and seek treatment for it, says Dr. Rachel Glick, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan and former co-chair of the Presidential Task Force on Mental Health on College Campuses.

Kids today are also being treated for psychological problems earlier than ever before, enabling them to attend college when it might not have been possible otherwise.

There’s also a lot to be said about the powder keg that can be a young adult’s transition to college. Not only are kids aged 18 to 22 experiencing a flood of developmental changes, they’re also usually living on their own for the first time, dealing with the stresses of figuring out their careers and staying up all night. Some are experimenting with drugs and alcohol. And then there are all of those expectations.

“There are a lot of notions that this is the way college has to be, this is the way I’ve planned on it to be my whole life,” says Todd Sevig, a psychologist who directs counseling and psychology services for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Michigan. “When that starts to change, it’s disconcerting.”

What You Can Do

While many parents are aware of their college-bound children’s vulnerabilities, whether due to past experiences with depression or a family history, others are caught by surprise.

“Some people are quite vulnerable [to depression], but it doesn’t emerge until the highly stressful years of separation and trying to grow into adulthood,” says Dr. Chris Martin, staff psychiatrist and team leader of the Menninger Clinic’s Compass Program, an inpatient hospital program for 18- to 30-year-olds struggling with psychiatric disorders.

That’s why it’s crucial for parents to keep an eye out for changes in their child’s attitude and behavior during the transition to college, as well as other periods of change such as the times leading up to summer break and graduation. This can be tricky to do, especially from afar, but the key is to look for unusual changes in your child’s appetite, sleeping habits (such as a sudden onset of insomnia), ability to concentrate and energy levels, Martin says.

If you spend a lot of time talking with your child about his or her hopes for college, consider discussing the problems he or she might encounter too, suggests Dr. Flynn O’Malley, the Compass Program’s program director.

Bringing up the topic now can make it easier for your child to open up about problems later. Sharing the fact that there’s no weakness in seeking counseling to get through a period of depression can also, in a subtle way, influence your child to get help if he or she ever needs it.

Sending a child off to school? How are you handling the transition? Weigh in. Post your thoughts in the Reader Comments section below.

Parents whose children are currently dealing with depression would also be wise to compare the mental health resources at the schools on their child’s wish list, Sevig says.

If a child’s problem is severe, it might mean asking if he or she would be able to work with a psychiatrist or inquiring about whether students are ever hospitalized if their illnesses progress. It’s smart to look into what your health insurance covers in terms of mental health care in different states, too.

With some planning, parents can position themselves so they’re better able to help their children deal with depression and get as much as possible out of the college experience.

“Kids with depression and anxiety disorders should be able to succeed with good treatment,” Glick says. “I think it’s harder, but it shouldn’t be a block to their being successful.”